Fluid control valve



United States Patent FLUID CONTROL VALVE Martin B. Conrad, Downey, Califl, assignor to Baker Oil fTools, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of Caliornia Original application April 2, 1954, Serial No. 420,586,

now Patent No. 2,751,013, dated June 19, 1956. Divided and this application November 2, 1954, Serial No. 466,408

12 Claims. (Cl. 166-226) The present invention relates to fluid control valves, and more particularly to subsurface valve devices that are especially useful in well bores for controlling passage of fluid therein. 7

This application is a division of my application for Well Packer, Serial No. 420,586, filed April 2, 1954, now Patent No. 2,751,013.

An object of the invention is to provide a valve device to be secured to a tubular string for disposition in a well bore, in which any tendency for fluid under pressure within the tubular string and valve device to elevate the tubular string is eliminated, or at least considerably minimized.

Another object of the invention is to provide a valve device to be secured to a tubular string for disposition in a well bore, in which any tendency for fluid under pressure within the tubular string and valve device to shift the valve device to open position is eliminated, or at least considerably minimized.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a valve device to be secured to a tubular string for disposition in a well bore, in which the valve is easily shifted, under the control of the operator, between closed and open positions despite the presence of a high or any pressure diflferential in the tubular string. Preferably, the valve device is hydraulically balanced, to permit its movement from closed to open position, regardless of the pressure condition within the tubular string and valve device.

A further object of the invention is to provide a valve device to be secured to a tubular string for disposition in a well bore, in which an excess of fluid pressure externally of the tubular string and valve device over the fluid pressure therewithin can efiect automatic opening ot the valve device.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of a form in which it may be embodied. This form is shown in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification.

It will now be described in detail, for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that such detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a combined longitudinal section and side elevational view of an embodiment of the invention, with the parts disposed in the relative positions that they may occupy for lowering or elevating the apparatus in a well casing or similar well conduit;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, disclosing the valve mechanism in closed position;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section taken along the line 33 on Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross-section similar to Fig. 3, with the parts in another relative position.

As disclosed in the drawings, a control valve device D and to the valve housing 50 itself.

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is connected to the lower portion of a tubular string C, the valve device being adapted to control the passage of fluid between the interior and the exterior of the tubular string. The lower portion of the valve device may be secured to another well tool (not shown) that is to perform a specified function in a well casing B disposed in a well bore.

The control valve device includes a lower valve housing or body 40 threaded onto the upper end of a tubular body 10 which may actually constitute a portion of the lower apparatus (not shown). The lower valve housing 40 has an inwardly directed upper shoulder 41 extending above and engaged by a retainer ring 42 whose lower" portion 43 engages and embraces a rubber, or rubberlike, seal ring 44 provided with a lower portion confined by a lower retainer ring 45 resting upon the upper end of the tubular body 10. The retainer rings 42, 45, in efiect, are opposed to one another, embracing the upper and lower portions of the seal ring 44 and leaving a substan tial intermediate portion of the latter exposed for sealing action against a companion valve head 46 formed at the lower end of a tubular mandrel or inner member 47 threadedly connected to the lower end of the tubing string C. Leakage of fluid between the lower valve body and tubular packer body is prevented by the provision of a suitable thread seal 48 between the members, whereas leakage between the upper retainer ring 42 and lower valve body 40 is prevented by a suitable side seal 49 mounted in the former and engaging the inner wall of the latter. g V

The control valve D further includes an upper valve housing or body 50 threaded onto the upper end of the lower valve housing or body 40 and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced side or circulation ports 51 therein, specifically disclosed in the drawings as being immediately above the upper end of the lower valve body or housing 40. This upper valve body 50 is threaded onto the lower end of a ratchet enclosing sleeve or clutching member 52 which is, in turn, threaded onto the lower portion of a cap 53 surrounding and closelyadjacent the periphery of the tubular mandrel 47, which extends upwardly therefrom. g V V The periphery of the mandrel 47 is provided with a pluralit'y of circumferential ratchet or clutching teeth 54 facing in a downward direction and engageable with companion internal ratchet teeth 55, facing in an upward direction, formed on a split ratchet or clutching ring 56. disposed within the ratchet sleeve. The ratchet ring 56 is engageable with the lower end of the cap 53 and has an external surface 57 tapering in a downward direction for engagement with a companion tapered internal surface 58 in'the ratchet sleeve; When the ring 56 is in an upward position substantially in engagement with the cap 53, a lateral space exists between the exterior of the ring and the inclined surface 58 of the ratchet sleeve 52, allowing the ring 56 to be expanded to a sufficient extent as to bring its teeth out of engagement with the companion teeth 54 on the tubular mandrel 47. On the other hand, when the ring 56 is in a downward direction relative to the sleeve 52, it will be wedged into engagement with the tapered surface 58 in the sleeve and held in coupling engagement with the ratchet teeth 54 of the. tubular man-1 drel, in order to lock the latter to the ratchet sleeve 52 The ratchet teeth 54, 55 are so designed that the mandrel teeth will engage the ring teeth when the mandrel 47 is moved in a downward direction, in order to prevent downward movement of the mandrel with respect'to the ratchet sleeve and valve housing, unless purposely desiredQ However, the mandrel 47 is free to move upwardly within' the ratchet 'ring 56 and with respect to the valve housing 50, the ratchet ring being merely displaced laterally during such upward movement of the mandrel.

Whenever it is desired to move the mandrel 47 from an elevated position with respect to the valve housing 50 to a lower position, the ring 56 is expanded so that its teeth 55 no longer can engage the mandrel teeth 54. Such expansion is accomplished by causing one end of the ring at one side of its split to engage a stationary stop element 59 secured to the ratchet sleeve 52. The other end of the ring 56 has a key 60 suitably secured to it and extending inwardly into a longitudinally extending keyway 61 formed in the tubular mandrel 47. When the mandrel 47 is in the position disclosed in Fig. 3 with respect to the ratchet ring 56, the latter is contracted into locking engagement with the teeth 54 of the mandrel. However,

- upon rotation of the mandrel in a counterclockwise direction or to the left, such as shown in Fig, 4, one end of the keyway 61 will engage the key 60 to tend to shift the ring 56 circumferentially of the ratchet sleeve 52. The other end of the ring 56 engages the stationary stop element 59 and cannot move. As a result, arcuate movement of the mandrel 47 expands the sleeve 56 and shifts its ratchet teeth 55 out of a position where they can engage the companion teeth 54 on the mandrel. Upon such arcuate movement of the mandrel 47, it can be lowered with respect to the ratchet sleeve 52 and body 54 In order to secure such expansion of the ratchet ring 56, it is necessary to prevent arcuate movement of the ratchet sleeve 52. This is accomplished by a friction drag device 62, which may be mounted on the tubular body of the well packer. Thus, the tubular body 10 has a plurality of circumferentially spaced, longitudinal slots 63 therein, in which friction drag blocks 64 are slidable, the outer surfaces of these blocks being frictionally engageable with the wall of the well casing B. They are urged in an outward direction by a plurality of compression springs 65 bearing against the bottom of each slot 63 and also against the blocks 64 themselves. Outward movement of the blocks is limited by engagement of their terminal portions 66 with upper and lower stop rings 67 encompassing the body. The lower ring 67 may be secured to the body 10 against longitudinal movement, as through use of screws 68.

The springs 65 urge the friction drag blocks 64 into engagement with the wall of the well casing B, thereby resisting both rotational and longitudinal movement of the tubular body 10, as well as of the valve housing 4t 50 and ratchet sleeve 52 connected thereto. The friction force of the blocks 64 against the well casing B is more than sufficient to prevent the ratchet sleeve 52 from rotating, and, therefore, allows the tubular mandrel 47 to be turned with respect to the sleeve 52 for the purpose of expanding the ratchet ring 56 out of a position of engagement with the mandrel.

The tubular mandrel 47 embodies the generally cylindrical valve head 46 at its lower portion, which is movable downwardly into sealing engagement with the seal ring 44 whenever the circulation ports 51 are to be closed,.-

and which is movable upwardly out of engagement with such seal ring 44 whenever the circulation ports 51 are to be opened. This relative upward and downward movement is permitted, since the friction drag blocks 64 will resist longitudinal movement of the valve housing 40, 50 in the well casing.

Thus, by raising or lowering the tubular mandrel 47, it is possible to open or close the ports 51 to the passage of fluid between the interior of the valve device D and tubing string C and the exterior thereof.

Assuming that the tubular mandrel 47 is in its downward position with its valve head 46 in sealing engagement with the companion seal 44, in order to close the circulation ports 51, and that fluid under pressure is being pumped down through the tubular string C, such fluid under pressure is acting across the lower end 69 of the tubular mandrel, and, in fact, across an effective area of the mandrel 47 equal to the cross-sectional area within the seal ring 44, tending to elevate the mandrel 47 with respect to the body 10 and valve housing 40, 50. This action also tends to elevate the tubular mandrel 47 to a valve opening position.

Such hydraulic shifting tendency is counterbalanced and offset in the present instance. An annular piston 70 is formed on the mandrel 47 above its lower valve head 46, which is slidably engageable with a cylindrical wall 71 in the valve housing 50 above the circulation ports 51. The cylinder 71 has a substantially greater diameter than the internal diameter of the seal ring 44 and the external diameter of the valve head 46. The mandrel 47 above the piston 70 is reduced in diameter and is slidable along an inwardly directed flange 72 of the valve housing. The tubular mandrel 47 can be elevated with respect to the valve housing 51) to a position limited by engagement of the upper end of the piston 70 with the lower end of the flange 72, the mandrel being lowered with respect to the valve housing to a position determined by engagement of a shoulder 73 above the valve head 46 with the upper end of the lower valve housing 40, in which position the periphery of the valve head 46 is in full sealing engagement with the seal ring 44.

The fluid under pressure within the tubular mandrel 47 is permitted to enter the annular space 74 between the cylindrical wall 71 and the periphery of the tubular mandrel 47 thereabove. Thus, one or more side ports 75 are provided through the mandrel immediately above its piston portion 70, to allow fluid to move into the cylindrical space 74 and act downwardly upon the piston and in an upward direction upon the flange 72. Leakage of fluid in a downward direction between the piston 70 and the cylindrical wall 71 is prevented by a suitable side seal 76, such as a rubber O ring, contained within a piston groove 77 and slidably and sealingly engageable with the wall 71 of the cylinder. Similarly, a suitable side seal 78, such as a rubber O ring, is contained within an internal groove 79 in the flange 72, being slidably and sealingly engageable with the periphery of the mandrel 47 above the side port or ports 75.

As was pointed out above, the fluid under pressure is acting over the cross-sectional area S at the lower end of the valve head 46, including the area of the passage therethrough, tending to elevate the mandrel 47. This same fluid under pressure passes outwardly through the side port or ports 75 into the cylindrical space 7i, and acts in a downward direction over the area R of the annular piston 7d. This latter annular area R is preferably made equal to the area S at the lower end of the valve head 46. Accordingly, any hydraulic forces acting over the area S and tending to elevate the tubular mandrel 47 are counter balanced and offset by the same hydraulic forces acting in a downward direction over the area R. in fact, the hydraulic forces within the tubular mandrel 47 and cylinder space 74 are also acting in an upward direction on the flange 72 over the area R, tending to elevate the'valv housing 4%, 5t; and keep the valve closed.

Assuming that the control valve is in closed position, such as shown in Pig. 2, with pressure being imposed on the fluid within the tubing string C, the control valve D can easily be shifted to open position merely by elevating the tubular mandrel 47. The friction drag blocks 64 prevent corresponding elevation of the parts below and surrounding the tubular mandrel, so that the mandrel is easily lifted to open the circulation ports 51 in the valve housing, as shown in Fig. 1.

With fluid under pressure within the tubing string C and the tool D, there is no tendency for the mandrel to be elevated and inadvertently open the valve D, in view of the counterbalancing annular piston 71). As a matter of fact, even in the absence of any circulation ports 51, the counterbalanced mandrel areas R, S, would still be effective to eliminate any hydraulic forces acting on the mandrel 47 tending to elevate it, as well as the tubing string C, in the well casing B.

The apparatus is assembled and run in the well casing, preferably with the mandrel 47 in its upper position, as shown in Fig. 1, in which the circulation ports 51 are open. Fluid can readily by-pass the tool during its lowering in the well casing by flowing upwardly through the tubular body it then discharging in an outward direction through the open circulation ports 51, as well aspassing upwardly through the mandrel 47 and into the tubing string C. The ratchet sleeve 56 will engage the tubular mandrel 47, to prevent downward movement of the mandrel with respect to the valve body 50 and tubular body 10. When the location in the well casing B is reached at which the apparatus is to be manipulated, the tubing string C and mandrel are turned to the left, the ratchet ring 56 being expanded, as shown in Fig. 4, to remove its teeth 55 from engagement with the mandrel teeth 54, whereupon the mandrel 47 can be lowered with respect to the valve housing 59 and packer body into the position disclosed in Fig. 2, in which the valve head 46 is in sealing engagement with the seal ring 44 of the valve,

closing the circulation ports 51. Thereafter, the fluid in the tubing string C, valve device D and tool (not shown) therebelow may be subjected to pressure, such fluid under pressure being discharged from the apparatus below the body 10, as from the tool (not shown, such as a well packer), into the well casing. Any suitable fluid under pressure, such as cement slurry, may be pumped down the tubing string C and through the valve device D for displacement in the well bore at some region below the apparatus, as through casing perforations or a casing shoe therein (not shown). As pointed out above, such fluid under pressure has no tendency to elevate the mandrel 47, in view of the provision of the counterbalancing annular piston '70.

At any time, and even with pressure within the tubing string C and control valve D, the latter can be shifted to an open position merely by elevating the tubular mandrel 47, thereby allowing the pressure both internally and externally of the apparatus to be equalized. Any fluent substances in the tubular string C, such as cement slurry, can be pumped through the open ports 51 and back through the tubing-casing annulus to the top of the hole. Instead of pumping fluid down the tubular string C, it can be pumped down through the tubing-casing annulus, through the open ports 51 and upwardly through the mandrel 47 and tubular string C to the top of the hole. In this manner, any excess cement slurry that might remain in the tubing string C and valve device D can be pumped back to the top of the well bore for suitable disposition.

As a matter of fact, the reverse pumping of fluid down through the tubing-casing annulus in the manner described above is elfective to shift the valve D to open position, assuming it to be in closed position initially. Such fluid under pressure will pass through the circulation ports 51 and will act in a downward direction over the area of the lower valve housing 4t and also over the annular area of the upper valve housing 59, shifting the valve housing and tubular body 19 in a downward direction with respect to the mandrel 47, thus opening the circulation ports 51. This downward movement occurs easily and without restraint from the ratchet ring 56, since the latter will merely ratchet freely over the companion teeth 54 on the periphery of. the tubular mandrel 47. Accordingly, with the circulation ports 51 open, the fluid being pumped down around the outside of the tubing string C will flow into the circulation ports 51 for upward passage through the tubular mandrel 47 and tubing string C.

At any time, it is merely necessary to take an upward strain on the tubular mandrel 47, which will open the circulation joint D, regardless of the presence or absence of a pressure diflerential within the well apparatus.

The inventor claims:

1. In a tubular control valve adapted to be secured to a tubular string for operation in a well bore: upper and lower tubular members telescopically arranged with respect to one another; said lower member having a port; coengageable seal means on said upper and lower members to prevent flow of fluid through said port between the exterior of said lower member and the interior of said upper member; portions of said members being spaced from one another to form an annular cylinder; means for feeding fluid from the interior of one of said members to said-annular cylinder; and means secured to said upper member and responsive to the pressure of the fluid within said cylinder for exerting a downward force on said upper member.

2. In a tubular control valve adapted to be secured to a tubular string for operation in a well bore; an outer tubular member having a side port; an inner tubular member telescoped within said outer member and adapted to be connected to the tubular string; seal means on said outer and inner members engageable with each other below said port to prevent flow of fluid through said port between the exterior of said outer member and the interior of said inner member; portions of said members being spaced from one another to form an annular cylinder; means for feeding fluid from the interior of said inner member to said annular cylinder; and means secured to said inner member and responsive to the pressure of fluid within said cylinder for exerting a downward force on said inner member.

3. In a tubular control valve adapted to be secured to a tubular string for operation in a well bore; tubular body means having a port; a tubular member connectible to the tubular string and telescopically arranged within said body means; coengageable seal means on said body means and member preventing flow of fluid through said port between the exterior of said body means and the interior of said tubular member when said tubular member occupies one position within said body means; said tubular member being shiftable longitudinally within said body means to another position permitting such flow of fluid; means providing an annular cylinder space between said body means and tubular member; means for feeding fluid under pressure from the interior of said tubular member to said cylinder space; said tubular member having a first portion subject to the pressure of fluid in said tubular member to exert a lifting force on said tubular member; said tubular member having a second portion in said cylinder space subject to the pressure of fluid in said cylinder space to exert a downward force on said tubular member.

4. In a tubular control valve as defined in claim 3; wherein the cross-sectional areas of said first and second portions are substantially equal.

5. In a tubular control valve adapted to be secured to a tubular string for operation in a well bore: tubular body means having a port; a tubular member connectible to the tubular string and telescopically arranged within said body means; coengageable seal means on said body means and member preventing flow of fluid through said port between the exterior of said body means and the interior of said tubular member when said tubular member occupies one position within said body means; said tubular member being shiftable longitudinally within said body means to another position permitting such flow of fluid; means providing an annular cylinder space between said body means and tubular member; means for feeding fluid under pressure from the interior of said tubular member to said cylinder space; said tubular member having a first portion subject to the pressure of fluid in said tubular member to exert a lifting force on said tubular member; said tubular member having a second portion in said cylinder space subject to the pressure of fluid in said cylinder space to exert a downward force on said tubular member; a releasable one-way clutching device between said tubular member and body means permitting upward movement of said tubular member within said body means but preventing downward movement of said tubular member within said body means; and means for releasing said clutching device to permit downward movement of said tubular member within said body means.

6. In a tubular control valve adapted to be secured to a tubular string for operation in a well bore: tubular body means having a port; a tubular member counectible to the tubular string and telescopically arranged within said body means; a valve seat in said body means below said port; a valve head on said tubular member engageable with said seat to close said port upon downward movement of said tubular member in said body means; means providing an annular cylinder space between said body means and tubular member above said port; means for feeding fluid under pressure from the interior of said tubular member to said cylinder space; said tubular member having a first portion subject to the pressure of fluid in said tubular member to exert a lifting force on said tubular member; said tubular member having a second portion in said cylinder space subject to the pressure of fluid in said cylinder space to exert a downward force on said tubular member.

7. in a tubular control valve adapted to be secured to a tubular string for operation in a well bore: tubular body means having a port; a tubular member connectible to the tubular string and telescopically arranged within said body means; a valve seat in said body means below said port; a valve head on said tubular member engageable with said seat to close said port upon downward movement of said tubular member in said body means; said body means including a cylinder above said port slidably and sealingly engaging said tubular member; said tubular member having a piston above said port slidably and sealingly engaging said cylinder; said tubular member having a port for feeding fluid under pressure into said cylinder above said piston to exert a downward hydraulic force on said piston and tubular member; said tubular member having a portion subject to the pressure of fluid in said tubular member to exert a lifting force on said tubular member.

8. In a tubular control valve as defined in claim 7; wherein the cross-sectional areas of said piston and said portion of said tubular member are substantially equal.

9. In a tubular control valve adapted to be secured to a tubular string for operation in a well bore: tubular body means having a port; a tubular member connectible to the tubular string and telescopically arranged within said body means; a valve seat in said body means below said port; a valve head on said tubular member engageable with said seat to close said port upon downward movement of said tubular member in said body means; said body means including a cylinder above said port slidably and sealingly engaging said tubular member; said tubular member having a piston above said port slidably and sealingly engaging said cylinder; said tubular member having a port for feeding fluid under pressure into said cylinder above said piston to exert a downward hydraulic force on said piston and tubular member; said tubular member having a portion subject to the pressure of fluid in said tubular member to exert a lifting force on said tubular memberya releasable one-way clutch device between said tubular member and body means permitting upward movement of said tubular member within said body means but preventing downward movement of said tubular member within said body means; and means for releasing said clutching device to permit downward movement of said tubular member within said body means to engage said valve head with said seat.

10. In a tubular control valve adapted to be secured to a tubular string for operation in a well bore; an outer tubular member having a side port; an inner tubular member telescoped within said outer member and adapted to be connected to the tubular string; seal means on said outer and inner members engageable with each other below said port to prevent flow of fluid through said port between the exterior of said outer member and the inte-, rior of said inner member; portions of said members being spaced from one another to form an annular cylinder; means for feeding fluid from the interior of said inner member to said annular cylinder; means secured to said inner member and responsive to the pressure of fluid within said cylinder for exerting a downward force on said inner member; and friction drag means secured to said outer member to resist its movement in the well bore.

11. In a tubular control valve adapted to be secured to a tubular string for operation in a well bore: tubular body means having a port; a tubular member connectible to the tubular string and telescopically arranged within said body means; coengageable seal means on said body means and member preventing flow of fluid through said port between the exterior of said body means and the interior of said tubular member when said tubular member occupies one position within said body means; said tubular member being shiftable longitudinally within said body means to another position permitting such fiow of fluid; means providing an annular cylinder space between said body means and tubular member; means for feeding fluid under pressure from the interior of said tubular member to said cylinder space; said tubular member having a first portion subject to the pressure of fluid in said tubular member to exert a lifting force on said tubular member; said tubular member having a second portion in said cylinder space subject to the pressure of fluid in said cylinder space to exert a downward force on said tubular member; and friction drag means secured to said outer member to resist its movement in the well bore.

12. In a tubular control valve adapted to be secured to a tubular string for operation in a well bore: tubular body means having a port; a tubular member connectible to the tubular string and telescopically arranged within said body means; coengageable seal means on said body means and member preventing flow of fluid through said port between the exterior of said body means and the interior of said tubular member when said tubular member occupies one position within said body means; said tubular member being shiftable longitudinally within said body means to another position permitting such flow of fluid; means providing an annular cylinder space between said body means and tubular member; means for feeding fluid under pressure from the interior of said tubular member to said cylinder space; said tubular memher having a first portion subject to the pressure of fluid in said tubular member to exert a lifting force on said tubular member; said tubular member having a second portion in said cylinder space subject to the pressure of fluid in said cylinder space to exert a downward force on said tubular member; a releasable one-way clutching device between said tubular member and body means permitting upward movement of said tubular member within said body means but preventing downward movement of said tubular member within said body means; means for releasing said clutching device to permit downward movement of said tubular member within said body means; and friction drag means secured to said outer member to resist its movement in the well bore.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,368,401 Baker Jan. 30, 1945 2,619,179 Armentrout Nov. 25, 1952 2,630,865 Baker Mar. 10, 1953 2,704,579 Brown Mar. 22, 1953 

